System and Method of Sail Propulsion for Sailing Vessels and Tugboats

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system and method of sail propulsion for sailing vessels and tugboats, consisting of one or more rows of sails secured at their upper vertices or corners by means of the ends of masts, and cables or ropes located between the upper ends of the masts, or the ends of the radial arms of said masts, with masts provided in the bow and others in the stern. The sails are secured at their lower vertices or corners to rings fixed to the deck, to ropes or cables, the ends of which are attached to the deck, to small posts, to the lower region of the main masts, to the ends of radial arms fixed in the lower region of the masts, or to pulleys on which the cables are wound using motors. The rows of sails, aligned from bow to stern, include a mast at the end sails. Cables or ropes form the upper ends of the intermediate sails.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Index to Related Applications

This application claims the benefit of PCT/ES2015/000086, filed Jun. 23, 2015, which claims the benefit of Spanish patent application number P201400539, filed Jun. 23, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In main or complementary sail propulsion five systems for vessels and tugboats thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The propulsion of ships is not sufficiently exploited at present. There are some with sail systems but they are expensive and not suitable for most of them. The present invention uses sails, even automatically produce propulsion in a simple and economical way, and is valid even for tugboats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provide a simple and inexpensive, practical sail propulsion system for vessels and tugboats, which can be automatic, easy and quick to install in today's ships and which, by reducing fuel consumption and the duration of the trips, provides a great saving, It is very ecological and safe, especially for gas ships, CO2 emissions are reduced. Being the only transport system totally ecological.

Use large surface and low draft tugs, which can withstand large sails.

Use catamarans of large lengths or in series, articulated, hinged or with spherical plain bearings, that allow the great oscillations generated by the big waves or the rough sea.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system and method of sail propulsion for sailing vessels and tugboats of the invention consists in the use in vessels and tugboats of one or more rows of sails fastened to their upper vertices or edges by the ends of a few masts and cables or ropes placed between the upper ends of masts or the ends of the radial arms thereof, some masts in the bow and others in the stern. Said sails being fastened by their lower vertices or edges to some rings fixed to the deck, to ropes or cables whose ends are fixed to the deck, to small stakes, to the lower part of the main masts, to the ends of some radial arms fixed in the lower part of the masts, or to pulleys in which they are rolled with motor.

The masts, with or without radial arms, can be rotating and can be placed with a backward inclination between 10° and 30° with respect to the vertical. Avoiding the wind incident on the sails to be thrown towards the outside, nor pressed the ship against the water, with the consequent loss of performance.

Rows of sails aligned from bow to stern, carry a mast in the sails of the ends. In the intermediate sails, cables or ropes make as upper ends of the sails.

You can add a propulsion system using paragliding kites.

The sails can be applied on the sides and/or in the upper area of the vessels or tugboats. When the sails are applied laterally, extensible or rotating arms are added and the masts are used for fastening in the upper area. The extensible arms may be flexible or be formed of several interconnected or joined together with straps. The ends of the arms placed on the sides are fastened with magnets, open clamps or flexible hooks.

The sails can be mostly triangular, rectangular and trapezoidal, fixed, of automatic extension, rotating and controlled manually or by microprocessor. The sails may have reinforced edges, vertices or corners, and their edges may have a fixed or fastened tubular shape, which can be secured by surrounding a cable or support cable.

The triangular sails can be fastened from their upper vertex from the cables between the ends of the masts, with a vertical cable that serves as support, as does the mast, or without the cable, in this case the two lower vertices are attached to two cables and with its displacement, the proper inclination is given to the sails to take advantage of the lateral wind efficiently or to navigate bowline or upwind.

The triangular sails may have in their central zone a cylindrical or truncated cone shape sleeve to introduce and facilitate securing to the masts.

The rectangular or trapezoid sails are placed and secured to four ropes or cables arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel or tugboat and are supported between two pairs of masts or two masts with four radial arms in trapezoidal, each pair has a mast in the bow and another in the stern. Those of two pairs of masts, can have their upper ends inclined or can be tilted toward the outside. The most useful is to sail bowline or crosswind, which has the longest use time.

The system is used as the only power or as a supplement to the propulsion made by other means, engines, turbines, etc. In all cases the energy saving is very important.

The weight can be reduced by using masts made of aluminum alloys, fiberglass or carbon fiber which are also not affected by corrosion. Canvas sails, plastic like Kevlar, a registered trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., polyester, etc., are generally flexible but can be semi-rigid or rigid.

A microprocessor, or the main processor, can drive servo motors, rams, actuators or controllers of the sails and the rudder in function of the signals of course of the ship, the route to follow, of GPS, direction and intensity of the wind and the swell, control knobs, manual actuation of the sails, total or partial retraction of the sail, etc.

The sails or their cables can be lowered using motors and pulleys. Their surface can also be reduced by winding them on the masts or radial arms. Another way to reduce its surface is by lowering its top vertex by attaching it to a cable in closed circuit and driving it with an electric motor and pulleys. A similar system is used to collect the sails, in which case the sail are extended or withdrawn by moving between three or four cables by means of rings at their vertices, motors and cables in closed circuit move the sails, retracting or extending them with the angle as a function of the wind. The corners of the sails must be joined together with laces so that once extended they maintain identical distances between them.

The masts can be telescopic and can be tilted and even fully collapsed in their lower zone, using hydraulic rams or motors and gear reducers.

When sails make vision difficult, the control tower can be located in the front area or a video camera can be used to view without difficulty.

The boat can be catamaran type, using four masts located in four corners or their proximities and with rectangular or trapezoid sails that can have the greater base in the upper zone using masts inclined towards the outside.

You can add a propulsion system of paragliding kite that pull the boat and are supported by cables or ropes directed with the resultant of the applied forces by the wind, the paraglide of the upper end carries a chamber or bag of helium and the set is wound on a roller-pulley driven by an electric motor. Paragliding kites are replaced by a parachute with a cable through its axis of symmetry, which also holds the ends of the parachute cords. They are used with the aft or aft side winds. In the upper end also 25 carries a helium chamber or bag.

The sails can also be extended automatically with the action of the wind, or manually operated with a remote control, and taking into account the direction of the wind and the waves, this for small boats.

The masts can be telescopic and can be tilted and even fully collapsed in their lower zone, using hydraulic rams or motors and gear reducers.

The catamarans and tugboats hulls as they are of great dimensions, low height and not excessively resistant can be formed by several modules or boats, articulated, hinged or with ball and socket joint, allowing great vertical and some muffled sides oscillations.

The control tower can be located in the front area.

The invention is a system of sail propulsion for sailing vessels and tugboats having rows of sails supported by their vertices or upper edges by cables held between the ends of a few masts, and those below a few shackles, cables, the ends of radial arms, small posts or pulleys characterized by applying to the ships (1) and tugboats (1 r) one or more rows of sails (4) fastened to their apexes or upper edges of the ends of some masts (5), of cables or ropes (11) or of the ends of radial arms, said sails being held by their interior vertices or edges to shackles, ropes or cables, to small posts, to the lower part of the masts, to the ends of radial arms, or to pulleys in which they are wound with motors, and by placing the control tower in the front zone of the vessel.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the masts (5 g) with radial arms (19, 2 g) are rotatable or tilting with motors (16) and gears (17) or with hydraulic rams, the upper vertices being held to an upper cable (11) between the ends of the masts and the lower ones to the lateral cables (14 t), as the masts tilt the sails lean (4 t).

In accordance with an additional feature the masts are placed with an inclination towards the stern between 10° and 30° with respect to the vertical.

In accordance with an additional feature at least one row of sails (4) are aligned from bow to stern, with a mast at each sail of the extremes (5 f and 5 r) and the intermediate sails with cables or ropes replacing or making like masts, the latter are supported between two cables attached to the ends of the masts (10 a and 10 b).

In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention the sails are applied in the upper area of the vessels and tugboats.

In accordance with yet another added feature of the invention the sails are applied to the sides of the vessels or tugboats and extensible arms are added and the ends of the arms are fastened with magnets, open clamps or flexible hooks.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention the extendable arms are flexible or are formed by several sections interconnected or joined together with straps.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention the sails are triangular (4, 4 d and 4 r).

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the sails are rectangular (4 p, 4 g).

In accordance with another feature of the invention, sails are trapezoid shape (4 z) and the masts have their upper ends inclined towards the outside.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the sails are of automatic extension, rotatable and controlled by a microprocessor.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention the sails are triangle rectangular (4 r and 4 d) and are held from the masts (5 t, 5 s and 5 g) supported on their upper vertex (12) by a cable (11) disposed longitudinally (5 t, 5 s or 5 g) at points (10 r and 10 s), and the lower vertices of the sails are joined on one side, rectangular vertex, fixed to shackles (7 d) on the vessel deck or to the lower ends of the masts, and on the other to the points (15 d) of the cables (14 d) arranged between the pulleys (23 d and 23 f) or between the ends of the radial arms (7 d) driven by motors (16 d) to adjust the inclination of the sails.

In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the sails (4) carry rings (25) at their apexes which slide around an upper cable (11 v) between masts (5 f) and (5 r) and lower side cables (14 v) fixed to the ground at their ends by means of shackle (7 v), a motor (16 v) is used, driving pulleys (18 v) moving a cable (22 v) in a closed circuit and thus the sails, being that of one end, attached to said circuit, the corners of the sails are connected to each other with the adjacent ones with cords so that once extended they maintain identical distances between them.

In accordance with yet another added feature of the invention, the sails are triangular (4) and their lower vertices are connected to points (15 d) of cables (14 d) placed between pulleys (23 d and 23 f) on both sides and driven with motors (16 d) adjust the inclination of the sails.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the sails are triangular (4) and the ends of both cables (14 d) supporting their lower vertices are joined together by forming a closed circuit between four pulleys, driving said pulleys and tilting the sails with motors.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the sails are rectangular or of trapezoid shape and are attached to and secured to four ropes or cables, two upper (11 p, 11 g) and two lower (14 p, 14 g), arranged along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel or tugboat and are supported between two pairs of masts (5 p, 5 n or 5 t) or a mast with four radial arms in the trapezoid shape, each pair has a mast in the bow and another in the stern.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the masts are made of aluminum alloys, fiberglass or carbon fiber and flexible plastic sails, such as polyester or Kevlar.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, a microprocessor or main processor receives signals from the ship's course, the route to be followed, GPS, direction and intensity of wind and wave, control knobs, manual actuation of the sails and total or partial retraction of the sails, sending signals to the servo systems whose hydraulic rams or motors direct or retract the sails according to the applied data.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the sails and/or their cables are lowered using motors and pulleys.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the surface of the sails is reduced by lowering their top vertex attached to a closed circuit cable (22) and driven by an electric motor (16 b).

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the masts are telescoping and are tilted or fully collapsed articulating them in their lower zone, with hydraulic rams or motors and gear reducers.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, a propeller system of paragliding kites (31) which pull the vessel or tugboat held with cords (35) and cables or cords (34) directed with the resultant of the forces applied with the wind, the upper end carries a helium chamber and the assembly is wound on a roller-pulley (32) with an electric motor (16 p).

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the multi-parachute propulsion system is in series, which pull the vessel or tugboat when inflated, traversed with a cable or rope (34) by its axis of symmetry, to which are also attached cords (35), the upper end carries a helium chamber and the assembly is wound onto a roller-pulley (32) driven by an electric motor (16 p).

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the vessel or tugboat is a catamaran with four masts located at or near its four corners and uses rectangular sails.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, several tugboats are in series.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, long tug boats, formed of multiple catamarans (1 c) and hinged to each other, hinged or with ball joints (37), with multiple rectangular or trapezoid shape sails (4 p) between four cables (11 p and 14 p), two upper ones attached to the ends of the masts (5 p) and two lower ones attached to a pulley where they are rolled up or unrolled with motors.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, long tugboats, formed of multiple catamarans (1 c), hinged to each other, hinged or with cups (37), with multiple trapezium sails (4 p) between four cables (11 p and 14 p) attached to the ends of the four radial arms (2 f and 2 r) of two rotating masts (5 g), hydraulic rams or motors, rotate or tilt the masts by tilting the sails.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, the sails or their cables are lowered using motors and pulleys.

In accordance with still another added feature of the invention, is a method of sail propulsion for sailing vessels and tugboats characterized in that one or more sails or rows of sails are applied to vessels and tugboats attached to their vertices or upper edges by the ends of one or more masts and/or cables or ropes placed between the upper ends of masts or radial arms thereof, masts at the bow and others at the stern, said sails being held by their lower vertices or edges to rings fastened to the cover or to ropes or cables, whose ends are attached to the deck, to a few small posts, to the lower area of the main masts, to the ends of radial arms fixed in the lower area of the masts, or to pulleys and rolled with motors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic and perspective view of a vessel with the sails of the system of the invention.

FIGS. 2, 3, 7 through 10, 15, 16 and 18 show schematic and perspective views of vessels with sails variants of the system of the invention.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 14 show schematic and in elevation views of variants of vessels with variants of the system of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of an actuator system of the cables by a servo motor.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a hollow mast portion and the sail actuation cables.

FIG. 13 shows a view of a system of actuation of the sails.

FIG. 19 shows a schematic and partial view of a sail collecting and spreading system.

FIG. 20 shows in elevation and slightly perspective view of a variant of the system of the invention.

FIGS. 17 and 21 show schematic and plan views of a vessel with a variant of the system of the invention.

FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of a possible mode of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention, FIG. 7 shows the ship (1), with the triangular sails (4) supported from its upper apex (12) with the cable (11) arranged longitudinally along the ship and between the ends of the front masts (5 f) and rear (5 r) at the points (10 a and 10 b). The lower vertices of the sails are attached to the points (15 d) of the cables (14 d) placed between the pulleys (23 d and 23 f) on both sides and are driven by the motors (16 d) which adjust the inclination of the sails. The ends of both cables (14 d) are joined together by forming a closed circuit between four pulleys (23 d and 23 f), driving and tilting the sails with the motors (16 d).

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the container ship (1), the rectangular sails (4 g) supported and inclined with the cables (11 g and 14 g) on the pulleys (23 f) and (23 r) on the four rotating masts (5 g) with the motors (6 d). In FIG. 2 it adds the rows of side sails (4 d) supported between the masts (5 g) the radial arms (2 g) and the cables (14 d). It is valid for all types of ships.

FIG. 3 shows the vessel (1) with the rectangular triangular sails (4 r) supported from its upper vertices (12) by the cable (11) arranged longitudinally along the vessel and on one side thereof, between the ends of the front (5 t) and rear (5 s) mast, at points (10 r and 10 s). The lower corners of the sails are fixedly attached to rings (7 d) on the deck of the boat at right angles, and to the points (15 d) of the cable (14 d) arranged between the pulleys (23 d and (23 f) driven with the motors (16 d) for tilting the sails.

FIG. 4 shows a vessel (1) with triangular sails (4) secured at its apex by the cable (11) arranged longitudinally along the vessel and between the ends of two masts, the front (5 f) and the rear (5 r), at the points (10 a and 10 b). The paragliding kite (31) pulling from the boat are attached with the strings (35), cables or ropes (34) directed with the resultant of the forces when they are inflated with the wind, the one of the upper end carries a helium chamber, and the assembly is wound onto a roller-pulley driven by the electric motor (16 p). Paragliding kite are replaced by parachutes, traversed with the cable (34) by its axis of symmetry, to which the cords (35) are also attached. They are only used with the aft or aft side wind.

FIG. 5 shows the ship (1) of FIG. 4 with the triangular sails (4) supported from its upper apex (12) by the cable (11) arranged longitudinally along the ship and between the ends of two masts (5 f), one front and one rear (5 r) at the points (10 a) and 10 b). The large arrow shows the bow wind, the masts (5) and the intermediate vertical cables (5 a). The sails are extended and supported from their lower vertices with ropes or cables (14) secured at their ends between the rings (13 a) and (13 b).

FIG. 6 shows the ship (1) of FIG. 4 with the triangular sails (4) supported from its upper apex (12) by the cable (11) disposed longitudinally along the ship and between the ends of the front mast (5 f) and the rear (5 r) at the points (10 a and 10 b). The large arrow shows the side wind. The sails are supported from their lower vertices with ropes or cables (14) located between the rings (13 a and 13 b) attached to the deck.

FIG. 8 shows the ship (1) with the rectangular sails 4 p) supported from its upper vertices (12 p) by means of the cables (11 p) placed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ship and between the ends of the masts, some forward (5 p), and the other rear (5 n) at the points (10 p and 10 n) and the lower vertices of the sails are attached to the points (15) of the cables (14) arranged between the lower areas of the masts. The ends of both cables (14) can be joined by forming a closed circuit between four pulleys such as (23 d and 23 f), driving and tilting the sails with the motors (16 d). The inclination of the sails allows to advance with lateral wind or sail bowling or tight with wind something more frontal.

FIG. 9 shows the oil tanker (1), with the trapezium sails (4 z) supported from their upper vertices (12 p) by means of the closed circuit cables (11 p) placed between the ends of the masts inclined outwards, some forwards (5 s) and other rear (5 t) on pulleys at the points (10 p and 10 n) upper ends of the masts. The lower vertices of the sails are attached to the points (15) of the cables (14) arranged between the lower areas of the masts. The cables (14) form a closed circuit between four pulleys (23 d and 23 f) in the lower area of the masts, driving and tilting the sails with the motors (16 d). The upper loop can be rotated by tilting or rotating the masts, the lower loop rotating the pulleys with the motor (16).

FIG. 10 shows the vessel (1), with the triangular sails (4 t) supported from their upper vertices (12 t) by the cable (11) placed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ship and between the ends of the rotating masts, the front (5 g) and the rear (5 n) at the points and the lower vertices of the sails are joined to the points (15 t) of the cables (14 t) disposed between the ends of the radial arms (19) carrying the masts (5 g), in its low zone. The masts are rotated or tilted with the motors (16) with rpm reducers or gears (17) and controlled all by a microprocessor. They can be turned and tilted with hydraulic rams.

FIG. 11 shows the cables (6, 11 and 14) driven by a pulley (18) and the motor (16 a) not shown in the figures, to not hinder their viewing. Their mission is to raise or lower the sails or to retract them by putting them together.

FIG. 12 shows a hollow mast (5) through which the cable or rope (22) circulates in a closed circuit between the pulleys (20 and 21), which has a point attached to the cable (11) so that when it is driven the motor (16 b) raises or lowers the end of the cable (11) and therefore the sails.

FIG. 13 shows the sails (4) partially retracted by the rings (25) at their apexes which slide around the upper cable (11 v) between the upper ends of the masts (5 f and 5 r) and the side cables (14 v) fixed to the ground with the rings (7 v). For its displacement, a motor 16 v is used which drives the pulleys (18 v) by moving the cable (22 v) in a closed circuit and thus to the sails, since the sail of one end is attached to said circuit. The corners or vertices of the sails must be joined together with cords so that once extended they maintain identical distances between them.

FIG. 14 shows a towed vessel (1) with the cable or rope (30), the tug (1 r) with the triangular sails (4) supported from its upper apex by the cable (11) arranged longitudinally along the ship and between the ends of two masts, one front (5 f) and one rear (5 r) at the points (10 a and 10 b). It adds a propulsion system for paragliding kites (31) which pull the boat and are supported by cables or cables (34) directed with the resultant of forces applied to the wind, the upper end carries a helium chamber or bag (33) and the assembly is wound onto a roller-pulley (32) driven by the electric motor (16 p). These are only used with favorable winds. Paragliding kites are replaced with parachutes crossed with the cable (34) by its axis of symmetry, to which the cords (35) are also attached, they also carry the helium chamber or bag at its upper end. They are only used with the aft or stern wind. The large arrow shows the wind tilted aft.

FIG. 15 shows a towed vessel (1) with the cable (30), the tug (1 r) with the triangular sails (4) supported from its top vertices (12) by the cable (11) arranged longitudinally of the ship and between the ends of the masts one front (5 f) and one rear (5 r) at the points (10 a and 10 b) and the lower vertices of the sails are attached to the points (15 d) of the cables (14 d) arranged between the pulleys (23 d and 23 f) on both sides and driven by the motors (16 d), adjusting the inclination of the sails. The ends of the cables (14 d) on both sides can be joined together forming a loop or closed circuit between four pulleys such as (23 d and 23 f), synchronously actuating and tilting the sails with the motors (16 d). The tug must have a large surface and a low draft, since it does not have to carry cargo.

FIG. 16 shows a towed vessel (1), tugboat (1 r) with rectangular sails (4 p) supported from its top vertices (12 p) by cables (11 p) placed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ship and between the ends of masts, some front (5 p) and other rear (5 n) at the points (10 p and 10 n) and the lower vertices of the sails are attached to the points (15) of the cables (14) arranged between the lower areas of the masts. The ends of both cables (14 d) can be joined by forming a closed circuit between four pulleys such as (23 d and 23 f), driving and tilting the sails with the motors (16 d). The inclination of the sails allows to advance with lateral wind or sail of bowling or tight with wind something more frontal.

FIG. 17 shows a towed boat (1), the tugboat (1 c) a catamaran with the rectangular sails (4 p) supported from their vertices with the cables (11 p) and (14 p) placed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ship and between the ends of the masts (5 p) placed near four corners of the catamaran. The cables (11 p and 14 p) are wound onto pulleys with motors not shown in the figure, adjusting the inclination of the sails.

FIG. 18 shows a towed vessel (1) with the cable (30), the tugboat (1 r) with the triangular sails (4) supported from its top vertices (12) by the cable (11) arranged longitudinally along the ship and between the ends of the rotating masts (5 g) at the points (10 a) and (10 b) and the lower vertices of the sails are attached to the points (15 d) of the cables (14 d) disposed between the ends of the radial arms (19). The masts can be rotated with hydraulic actuators or rams, or with electric motors.

FIG. 19 shows the sails (4) partially retracted by the rings (25) at their apexes which slide around the upper cable (11 v) between the upper ends of the masts (5 f) and (5 r) and the side cables (14 v) fixed to the ground with the rings (7 v). For its displacement, a motor (16 v) is used which drives the pulleys (18 v) by moving the cable (22 v) in a closed circuit and thus to the sails, since one end of the sail is attached to said circuit. The corners or vertices of the sails must be joined together with cords so that once extended they maintain identical distances between them.

FIG. 20 shows a tug system of large length formed by multiple catamarans (1 c) and hinged to each other, hinged or with ball joints (37), with multiple rectangular sails (4 p) between the four cables (11 p) and (14 p) the upper two attached to the ends of the masts (5 p) and the two lower ones to pulleys where they are wound or unrolled with motors, not shown in the figure, in order to tilt the sails. Due to the great length and strength to resist it may be necessary to place other intermediate masts.

FIG. 21 shows a large tug system consisting of multiple catamarans (1 c) and hinged to each other, hinged or with ball-and-socket (37), with multiple trapezium sails (4 p) between the four cables (11 p and 14 p) fastened to the four radial arms (2 f and 2 r) of the rotating masts (5 g). Hydraulic rams or motors, not shown in the figure, rotate or tilt the masts, in order to tilt the sails. Due to the great length and strength that must be resisted it may be necessary to place other intermediate masts.

FIG. 22 shows in the block diagram the ship's course signals, the route to follow, GPS, direction and intensity of the wind and waves, control knob and manual control of the sails, total or partial retraction of sails, etc. Which are applied to a microprocessor, or to the main processor, which sends the signals to the servo systems whose motors retract or direct the sails and rudder of the boat, tugboat or tugboats according to the applied data. The sails can be partially or totally retracted.

The sails can also be extended automatically with the action of the wind, or manually operated with a remote control, and taking into account the direction of the wind and the waves, this for small boats. 

1.-29. (canceled)
 30. A system for propulsion of a vessel having a length and a width, comprising: a plurality of sails having a vertice or upper edge and a base or lower edge, each sail supported at the vertices or upper edges by a first cable, said first cable extending between one or more masts, said masts extending from said vessel generally along the longitudinal axis of said vessel, the base of each sail extending across said vessel, a first portion of said base of each sail attached to a second cable, said second cable extending along a first edge of said vessel, a second portion of said base of each sail attached to a second edge of said vessel, said second cable movable along the length of said vessel, to move the first portions of said base of said sails forward toward the bow of said vessel or rearward toward the stern of said vessel.
 31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said masts have radial arms, said radial arms for rotation about the vertical axis of said masts, a motor connected to said masts for rotating said arms and for simultaneously adjusting all the sails in the same manner.
 32. The system according to claim 30, wherein the masts are tilted with an inclination towards the stern between 10° and 30° with respect to the vertical.
 33. The system according to claim 30, wherein at least two or more sails are aligned from bow to stern, between at least two masts, one said mast at the bow and a second said mast at the stern of said vessel, and intermediate sails between said masts are supported by said first cable between said masts.
 34. The system according to claim 30, wherein said sails are in approximate parallel planes.
 35. The system according to claim 30, wherein the sails are triangular or rectangular.
 36. The system according to claim 30, wherein the sails are trapezoid shape and the masts have their upper ends inclined towards the outside of said vessel.
 37. The system according to claim 30, wherein the sails are triangle rectangular and are held from the masts supported on their upper vertex by a cable disposed longitudinally at points and the lower vertices of the sails are joined on one side, rectangular vertex, fixed to shackles on the vessel deck or to the lower ends of the masts, and on the other to the points of the cables arranged between the pulleys or between the ends of the radial arms driven by motors to adjust the inclination of the sails.
 38. The system according to claim 30, wherein the masts are telescoping and are tilted or fully collapsed articulating them in their lower zone, with hydraulic rams or motors and gear reducers.
 39. The system according to claim 30, wherein the surface of the sails is reduced by lowering their top vertex attached to a closed circuit cable and driven by an electric motor.
 40. The system according to claim 30, wherein the sails are triangle rectangular and are held from the masts supported on their upper vertex by a cable disposed longitudinally at points, and the lower vertices of the sails are joined on one side, rectangular vertex, fixed to shackles on the vessel deck or to the lower ends of the masts, and on the other to the points of the cables arranged between the pulleys or between the ends of the radial arms driven by motors (16 d) to adjust the inclination of the sails.
 41. The system according to claim 30, wherein the sails carry rings at their apexes which slide around said first cable between masts and the second cable fixed to the ground at their ends by means of a shackle, and a motor is used, driving pulleys moving a cable in a closed circuit and thus the sails, being that of one end, attached to said circuit, the corners of the sails are connected to each other with the adjacent ones with cords so that once extended they maintain identical distances between them.
 42. The system according to claim 30, wherein the sails are triangular and their lower vertices are connected to points of cables placed between pulleys on both sides of said vessel and driven with motors adjust the inclination of the sails.
 43. The system according to claim 30, wherein the sails are triangular and the ends of both cables supporting their lower vertices are joined together by forming a closed circuit between four pulleys, driving said pulleys and tilting the sails with motors.
 44. The system according to claim 30, wherein the sails are rectangular or of trapezoid shape and are attached to and secured to four ropes or cables, two upper and two lower, arranged along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel or tugboat and are supported between two pairs of masts or a mast with four radial arms in the trapezoid shape, each pair has a mast in the bow and another in the stern.
 45. The system according to claim 30, wherein a microprocessor receives signals from the ship's course, the route to be followed, GPS, direction and intensity of wind and wave, control knobs, manual actuation of the sails and total or partial retraction of the sails, sending signals to the servo systems whose hydraulic rams or motors direct or retract the sails according to the applied data.
 46. The system according to claim 30, further having a propeller system of paragliding kites supported by an upper helium chamber, for pulling the vessel, said paragliding kites held with cords and cables or cords directed with the resultant of the forces applied with the wind, the upper end carries a helium chamber and the assembly is wound on a roller-pulley with an electric motor.
 47. The system according to claim 30, characterized by a multi-parachute propulsion system in series, which pulls the vessel or tugboat when inflated, traversed with a cable or rope by its axis of symmetry, to which are also attached cords, the upper end carries a helium chamber and the assembly is wound onto a roller-pulley driven by an electric motor.
 48. The system according to claim 30, multiple vessels are hinged to each other, with multiple rectangular or trapezoid shaped sails supported by four cables on the multiple vessels, two upper ones attached to the ends of the masts and two lower ones attached to a pulley where they are rolled up or unrolled with motors.
 49. A method of sail propulsion for sailing vessels and tugboats comprising: using one or more sails or rows of sails applied to a vessel and tugboats, having said sails attached to their vertices or upper edges by the ends of one or more masts and/or cables or ropes placed between the upper ends of masts or radial arms thereof, masts at the bow and others at the stern, said sails being held by their lower vertices or edges to rings fastened to the cover or to ropes or cables, whose ends are attached to the deck, to a few small posts, to the lower area of the main masts, to the ends of radial arms fixed in the lower area of the masts, or to pulleys and rolled with motors, and moving said sails from one position to another position to catch the wind and propel said vessel. 